Steve Palumbo: Are the Avalanche Peaking Too Soon?

While I understand the premise for the article, it does seem ridiculous. You play to win every game....period. If I was an Avs fan, the better question might be are the Avs capable of playing winning hockey in the PO's? Things get far more difficult for those high flying offence clubs when PO hockey shows up. How good are the Avs at playing that defence style game, and is the goaltending going to be good enough? Personally, I think it is....and my guess is Sakic does no major moves.

With Vegas' salary cap circumvention for the playoffs and them pulling the BS that Tampa Bay did last year I don't see us being able to compete with them. We need another top 6 fwd and another bottom 6 fwd and a depth Dman with size and toughness. Sammy G gets pushed around too easily, Jost has declined after a promising rebound year last year. You have got to move the players that are not going to help you win a Cup.

With Vegas' salary cap circumvention for the playoffs and them pulling the BS that Tampa Bay did last year I don't see us being able to compete with them. We need another top 6 fwd and another bottom 6 fwd and a depth Dman with size and toughness. Sammy G gets pushed around too easily, Jost has declined after a promising rebound year last year. You have got to move the players that are not going to help you win a Cup.
- Avsrchamps01

I realize this was written before last night's game and also that last night was only one game. But the Avs did well on the road after playing a full 60 the night before. Most importantly, Girard had a solid game and was very capable of digging pucks out of his own corners with Vegas forecheckers on his back. I don't like to put too much stock into his poor series last year. And with a different makeup on the backend, Girard doesn't have to play the same kind of minutes this year.

Great game last night. It’s going to be a battle between these two methinks in the conf final. Should be fun. I wouldn’t be heart broken to see the Avs win it all.

It looks like the Avs are in a league of their own. But it looks like VGK is built for the playoffs and have an edge at center when Stone returns. I think the Avs should try to get Giroux if the cost is reasonable. Giroux is insurance if MacKinnon or Kadri go down and he’s incredible in the faceoff circle(61.6% this year and 55.8 % lifetime) when faceoffs take on added importance.

All I have to say is go easy on the Wings tonight... Try to keep it under 4 goals if you can. Ken Holland left the Wings a complete dumpster fire and delayed an actual rebuild by at least 6 years. Only since Yzerman took over did a rebuild actually start.
Give us a couple more years and we'll be a solid playoff team. I really miss the Wings / Avalanche rivalry. Kind of interesting that both Sakic and Yzerman are the respective GM's now...

All I have to say is go easy on the Wings tonight... Try to keep it under 4 goals if you can. Ken Holland left the Wings a complete dumpster fire and delayed an actual rebuild by at least 6 years. Only since Yzerman took over did a rebuild actually start.
Give us a couple more years and we'll be a solid playoff team. I really miss the Wings / Avalanche rivalry. Kind of interesting that both Sakic and Yzerman are the respective GM's now...
- Vladdie_Kon1

2 of the best players and 2 of the best GM's in my opinion. Yzerman practically built the 2 cups that Tampa won and the Wings have some outstanding young players...that Seider kid wholly cow. They will be in playoff contention sooner rather than later